Saturday, January 31, 2015

Hello there! Back again with a card for our church ministry. I used the set Lovely As A Tree, which hasn't seen ink in awhile. I wish I could have got it to photograph better, but hopefully you get the idea:) I started with a Perfect Plum base and cut the center out using the Apothecary Accents Framelits along with the Big Shot. I stamped the border leaf image in Perfect Plum ink as well.

Next I took a piece of Irresistibly Yours DSP~a SAB option you can get for FREE with any $50 purchase, and applied Sahara Sand ink onto it using a Brayer. The paper has a glossy white pattern which is revealed when you add color to it. I wiped the excess ink off with a tissue to make the design come alive even more. I then stamped the tree images on top using Black StazOn ink, which sticks to the glossy designs well. I adhered this piece to the inside of the card and added a layer of Vellum Cardstock on top, adhereing with Glue Dots in all 4 corners.

I used the sentiment from Sheltering Tree, found in the Occasions Catalog, stamped in Basic Black ink onto Sahara Sand Cardstock. I added a piece of Sweet Sadie Washi Tape along with a bit of a Tea Lace Doily underneath and accented the sentiment with a Silver Basic Metal Button adorned with a Silver Metallic Baker's Twine bow. Unfortunately, we needed alot of sympathy cards over the past several months, so I wanted to work on having more ready when we need them. Thanks so much for stopping by, and make sure to come back tomorrow to check out the new Class of the Month:)

Friday, January 30, 2015

Hello there! Sorry for the long break~I haven't been able to upload any photos to my blog for the past 3 days. We switched browsers and that seemed to do the trick:) This is one of the cards I'll be making to give to our church card ministry. I used the set Celebrate Today along with the coordinating Balloon Framelits. I started with a Bermunda Bay base and added a piece of Birthday Bash DSP. I used another coordinating design of DSP, flagged the bottom and attached. I cut a circle out of Night of Navy Cardstock using the Big Shot along with the Circles Collection Framelits.

I stamped one balloon image in Bermuda Bay with a Night of Navy sentiment, and the other balloon in Crushed Curry. I stamped the pennant image in Bermuda Bay and cut them all out with the Balloon Framelits. I tried to color the pennant with different markers, but couldn't get the ink to stick well to the photopolymer, so I stamped the pennant an additional 4 times using the following colors: Night of Navy, Calypso Coral, Mossy Meadow and Tangelo Twist. I cut one of the pennants out of each color and adhered to the Bermuda pennant with Liquid Tombow. I tied a tail onto each balloon using Calypso Coral Baker's Twine and added some of the brand new Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim.

I attached the Bermuda balloon with Dimensionals. Such a fun card to make, and even funner saving 15% when you bundle:) I've got a couple more church cards to share with you and I'm excited to share the February Class of the Month with you on Sunday! Make sure to stop back. Thanks so much for coming by:)

I started with a Crumb Cake base and added a piece of SAB Best Year Ever DSP. I stamped the sentiment in Calypso Coral onto Whisper White Cardstock and rounded the top corners with the PL Corner Punch. I made a frame from a coordinating design of Best Year Ever DSP by using one of the ovals from the Ovals Collection Framelits and running it through the Big Shot.

I cut a strip of Crushed Curry Cardstock and punched it with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, and adhered it to the back of the frame. I then put a Dimensional in each of the 4 corners, centered it over the sentiment, and attached. I finished it off with a button from the Best Year Ever Accessory Pack, another SAB choice. I thread a piece of Crushed Curry Baker's Twine through the button, tied a bow and attached with a couple of Glue Dots.

For those of you who may not be familiar with Sale-A-Bration...this is the best time of the year for those of us in the SU! world. For every $50 you spend, you get to pick out a SAB item from the brochure for FREE. And this year there are 22 different selections to choose from! SAB goes til the end of March so that should give you plenty of time to get all of your favorites:) The stamp set, DSP and Accessory Pack are 3 of the offerings this year. I'll be sharing lots more with you. Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks Debbie for the wonderful inspiration:)

Monday, January 12, 2015

Hell there! I've been on a Valentine's Day roll so I have one more card to share with you today. This card features the set Wood You Be Mine? from the Occasions Catalog. I started with a Crumb Cake base and added a piece of DSP from the Adventure Abound DSP Stack, also found in the OC.

I took a piece of Soft Sky Cardstock and stamped the tree image in Mossy Meadow, stamping full strength along the bottom and stamping again vertically a couple of times to get some depth. I repeated this all the way across. Next I made a stencil using the Cupcake Builder Punch for the clouds. I used a Sponge Dauber with Whisper White Craft ink, and adhered to the card front. I added a piece of Burlap Ribbon and frayed the end.

I stamped the sentiment and lumberjack image with Memento Black ink onto Whisper White Cardstock and used Read Red for his shirt. I colored the rest with Skin Tone, Crumb Cake & Night of Navy Blendalilities. I used a Real Red Marker for his cap and axe and a Smoky Slate Marker for the axe. I used the Color Lifter on the Night of Navy to resemble denim. I used a Crumb Cake Marker to outline the image and cut it out using the Circles Collection Framelits along with the Big Shot. For the 'circular blade', I used the Starburst Framelits and Silver Foil Sheets. I used a Sponge Dauber in Cajun Craze ink to rust it up a bit. For a finishing touch I added a heart form the Essentials Wooden Elements with a Glue Dot.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing some Sale-A-Bration love, so be sure to stop back. Thanks so much for coming by:)

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Hello there! Today I have another fun Valentine project for you featuring the set You Plus Me, and some Twizzlers. I used Read Red, Melon Mambo and Smoky Slate Cardstock.

Start with a piece of cardstock measuring 3 1/2" x 2". Lay it shortwise on the Simply Scored and score down the middle. With a pencil, make a mark at 1" on both ends as shown,

and cut at a diagonal.

Mark at 1" and 2" from the center and cut slits, no more than 1/2" long.

While folded, cut slits on edge to resemble an arrow.

Gently insert Twizzlers as shown.

For the arrow tips, I used the heart from Hearts A Flutter Framelits and ran it through the Big Shot. For the sentiment I used Whisper White Craft ink, along with White Embossing Powder and heat-embossed it. I added 2 Glue Dots to adhere to candy and added a Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine bow.

I added a Whisper White heart from the Hearts Collection Framelits for this design and added a Regals Button thread with baker's twine. I layered a few Glue Dots and attached to the heart. The sentiment was stamped in Melon Mambo. I wiped the ink off of the heart and colored it with a Real Red Marker and then stamped onto a piece of Whisper White Cardstock measuring 2 1/2" x 1". I flagged the end and punched a hole on the other end with a 1/8" Handheld Circle Punch and tied it to the licorice with a 9" piece of Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine.

For this masculine version I stamped the sentiment in Black Memento ink onto a 3" x 1 1/4" piece of Whisper White Cardstock, punched hole and attached with 6" piece of Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine. Fot the arrow tip, I wrapped a piece of 7" same baker's twine around it twice and tied in a knot on the back.

I had a little extra fun with this one...

I don't know...cornball or cute? Let me know what you think:)

And don't forget~how could I let you, right?:) Today is the deadline to sign up for January's CLASS OF THE MONTH:YOU PLUS ME. You get the stamp set, DSP Stack, stencil and dauber to try out the Bokeh Technique, kit to make 4 cards(you need to supply inks and adhesive), and 3 bonus project ideas.. Cost of the online class is $35.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Hello there! I have a special delivery for you today:) Here's a quick and easy Valentine using You Plus Me and a couple of Hershey Nuggets. Start with a piece of Real Red Cardstock measuring 2 1/4" x 1". To round the ends of the flap, put the cardstock through the 1" Circle Collection Framelit, making sure to keep the framelit on top of cardstock as close to one end as possible, and the other end make sure to keep the cardstock on top of the framelit. It helps to use the Magnetic Platform to keep the framelit centered over and under the cardstock. Run through the Big Shot. Set this piece aside.

Take a second piece of Real Red Cardstock measuring 4 1/2" by 1 1/4". Place longways on Simply Scored and score at 1" and 3 7/8". Make dot with pencil at 1 1/2" approximately 1/2" from bottom. Use Paper-piercing Tool to poke a hole. Use Bone Folder to gently bend cardstock into a U shape. Set this piece aside. Take a 3rd piece of Real Red Cardstock and use the 1" Square Punch to make the mailbox flag and trim off excess with paper trimmer. Poke hole in end and adhere to U shaped piece at pencil mark with a Mini Brad. Adhere 2 nuggets together with a bit of SNAIL. Add a small amount of SNAIL to the straight edge of the flap piece and adhere nuggets. Adhere this to the end of the U shaped piece and wrap around. Secure the end underneath with Liquid Tombow or Fast Fuse.

Score a piece of 1 1/2" x 1 1/4" Whisper White Cardstock in half and stamp the sentiment in Real Red, keeping more space at the bottom. Trim the top piece slightly on both ends to resemble an envelope flap. Stamp the hearts image on the top flap.

Using a Real Red Marker, color the heart image on the Twitterpated image and stamp onto Whisper White Cardstock. Use the medium circle on the Owl Builder Punch to punch out and attach to flag with a Glue Dot. Finally, tie a 6" length of Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine around flag as shown.

I hope I 'delivered' today showcasing another use for the You Plus Me set:) Make sure to stop back tomorrow for a few more ideas. Thanks so much for stopping by:)

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Hello there! Only a couple of days left to order January's CLASS OF THE MONTH:YOU PLUS ME. The cost of this online class is $35, and you will get all the supplies to make these 4 cards. With the purchase of this class you will receive the following:

To order this class, please email me at lmel09@q.com and let me know you're interested in January's CLASS OF THE MONTH:YOU PLUS ME. I will need order and $35 by Saturday, January 10th. You will need to supply ink, adhesive and clear blocks. See detailed list of supplies listed at end of this post.

Here is another fun idea that you can make using this stamp set. I stamped a 4x6 Cellophane Bag with White StazOn ink. You'll want to have the opening of the bag at the bottom. Tip: Sentiment is easier to read if you stamp higher on the bag.

To make the tag, cut a piece of Whisper White Cardstock to 2 1/2" x 1/2". Stamp the hearts with Real Red ink in the center of the tag. Punch a hole on the left side using a 1/8" Circle Handheld Punch. Flag the other end using Paper Snips.

Take 2 Twizzler ropes and bend both in half, holding in left hand. Fold 2 more Twizzlers in half, forming a heart. Cinch the bag closed and carefully slide into Cellophane Bag. Have the tag ready and slide onto a 7" length of Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine and tie a bow. Insert a skewer through the bottom of the bag. These are a quick and easy Valentine to make for everyone on your list, or make a bouquet of them for someone extra special:)

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Hello there! Here is the final card that you will make with my January CLASS OF THE MONTH:YOU PLUS ME. Again, this class features the stamp set You Plus Me and you'll receive all the componects to make this fun shaker card, along with the 3 cards from the previous 3 posts. I've also got some other projects in the works, so stay tuned:)

You'll start with a Real Red base, prescored for you, and adhere the Stacked with Love DSP with SNAIL. Stamp the heart with arrow in Real Red ink onto Real Red Cardstock with heart cutout. Fold Calypso Coral Chevron Ribbon in half and staple to cardstock.

Turn over and adhere Window Sheet with SNAIL. Adhere foam Shaker Frame over heart cutout making sure it doesn't show through the Window Sheet. You may need to snip the foam frame at the bottom and straighten it the best you can along the the cardstock edge. Be careful to butt the ends as close together as possible so the sequins don't fall out. Make a pile of sequins and hearts in the center of the red heart DSP. Peel backing off of Shaker Frame and attach to red heart DSP.

Adhere cutout piece to card front. Stamp sentiment with Calypso Coral ink onto 1 3/4" Whisper White circle. Adhere small white circle to sentiment with SNAIL and attach red heart with a Glue Dot. Run a bit of SNAIL along right edge and add a Dimensional to the left side. Adhere to card.

Well I just got done being interviewed by WQAD about the tragic shooting yesterday. I am thanking the Good Lord that I put on make-up today:) Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Hello there! Here's the 3rd card you'll be making with the purchase of the January CLASS OF THE MONTH featuring the stamp set You Plus Me. You will receive all the components to make this card starting with a Crumb Cake base, prescored for you. The Calypso Coral piece will come pre-punched with the Hearts Border Punch. Thread the Calypso Coral Baker's Twine through the cutout hearts and tie in a bow. Adhere the Stacked with Love DSP to the Calypso piece with SNAIL.

Stamp the sentiment with Real Red ink and adhere the border piece to the card front. Add the Essentials Wooden Element chevron with Glue Dots.

Flag the DSP and Calypso Cardstock pieces by cutting from one corner to the center and then repeat from the other corner. Stack and staple to the cardstock. Fold the Natural Chevron Ribbon over the paper and staple. Attach paper/ribbon to the card front with Glue Dots.

Thank you so much for coming by today, and if you're still with me, please stop and say a prayer for our neighbors across the street. The neighbor lady was shot by a policeman in front of her little boy. I happened to be on my bed reading my Devotionals and saw it happen. I just found out a little while ago that she died. They're saying he was shooting at the dog but it didn't look that way from my view. Very disturbing and not something you think you'll ever witness. I just pray they can find out excatly what happened. Give your loved ones a big hug tonight:)

Monday, January 5, 2015

Hello there! Okay, thanks for bearing with me while I pulled this CLASS OF THE MONTH together:) January's class will feature the stamp set You Plus Me. The fee for this class to go is $35. You will receive the following:
*You Plus Me clear mount stamp set
*Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack
*Stencil
*Sponge Dauber
*Kit components to make 4 featured cards including envelopes
*Online instructions for 4 featured cards
* Bonus projects

This is the second card that you will make with your kit. It features the Bokeh technique which is trendy now. You will receive a piece of Basic Black Cardstock, prescored for you. Adhere the Stacked with Love DSP to the card front using SNAIL. Set aside.

Place the watercolor paper on a covered work surface, a small piece of cardboard would work well. You're going cover the entire surface of the paper with water using a paintbrush or AquaPainter. You will need a Real Red, Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe Ink Refill or at least 2 of these in similar colors you may already have. Put a couple of drops into 3 separate containers and have an additional container with water. Dab Red onto the paper first, then Calypso~butting it up next to the red and letting it blend. Then fill in with the Cantaloupe, making sure to fill in any white spaces.

The watercolor paper will curl a bit but you can flatten it out by gently bending it when it's dry, or you can tape it down before you begin using masking tape or ugly washi tape that you don't use. Let it dry~may take an hour or two, or speed up the drying time with a Heat Tool.

You will need a Whisper White Craft Ink Pad and/or Refill. If you have the refill, you can add some ink to a paper plate. Using the Sponge Dauber and largest circle on the stencil, dab the ink onto the paper and rub it in lightly~you want these circles to be the lightest.

Repeat the process using the medium circle and making it a little darker. The effect looks best when you overlap the circles.

Repeat a 3rd time using the smallest circle and making it darker.

Finally, use the Sponge Dauber and apply heavy pressure. The idea is to mimic photography of lights out of focus. Let this dry completely, again the Heat Tool helps speed up the process.

Stamp the sentiment in Basic Black ink. Add the Stacked with Love Washi Tape and DSP strip. Attach the Calypso Coral Pompom Trim(love this stuff!) with a Mini Clothespin.

Once the White craft ink dries, it lightens up, so you may want to daub some ink on some of the smallest circles again. Attach watercolor piece to the card base using Dimensionals. Carefully dodge any wet ink and add the In Color Sequins with Glue Dots.

This is such a fun technique and I hope you'll give it a try with January's CLASS OF THE MONTH:You Plus Me. Stop back tomorrow to see the 3rd card you'll make with this fun kit. Thanks so much for stopping by!